“Do you want to know the secret togetting me to follow orders?” I pulled at his bottom lip.
He groaned. “Yes.”
“Stop giving them.” I lifted myselfoff of him and walked to the door giving a flirty look over my shoulder beforeleaving.
His eyes were yellow but there was asmile on his face.
***
I knocked lightly on Anna’s door. Itwas my door really, but it was her room for the time being. I wasn’t exactlycomplaining about sharing a room with Kai.
“Come in,” a bright voice answered onthe other side.
I opened the door and tried to maskmy shock. Her face had filled in and she looked like she gained at least fifteenpounds. She looked healthy. Her cheeks were rosy and her hair was already acouple of inches long. She had a cute red clip pulling some hair away from herface. She looked beautiful. Jake sat at her bedside and they were both leaningover a photo album and smiling.
Jake looked up when he saw me. “Hi,Aurora. She is taking things pretty well, considering. I’ll give you two amoment to talk.”
After Jake left the room I sat downand nervously picked at my jeans. I didn’t have a formal plan of what I wantedto say to her, I just wanted to make sure she was okay. Let her know that Iknew how she felt. She started the conversation for me.
“Jake tells me you were hit by a car.That Kai, who is our Alpha,changedyou and then you found out you weremates. How romantic.” She smiled.
“Romantic is one word for it. Scary,intimidating, horrifying, shocking AND romantic is more like it.” I smiled andwe both shared a laugh.
“Jake tells me that we’re mates, too.I’m not sure what that really means but I think he’s a good guy and he ispretty hot, too,” she offered with a smile.
I wanted to set her mind at ease.“Well, you haven’t done your first shift yet, so once you fully let your wolfout, you will feel what it’s like to find your mate. It’s pretty incredible andI’m sure if you ask Jake to take it slow, he will.”
“I just escaped death. The last thingI want to do is take things slow. I’m ready to live my life.” She reached out,grabbed my hand and squeezed. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Thank you forfinding me and for letting Kaichangeme. I was in so much pain, sodefeated. I wanted to fight for my life but the doctors kept telling me to giveup. I feel so strong now. I have so much hope for the future.”
My throat swelled up and I wasovercome with sudden emotion. I never attributed my Matefinding gift as a goodthing but maybe it was. In this case it was. I thought of Sadie and how happyshe must be to have moved on to another pack and settled with her mate. I made upmy mind to be a Matefinder, to fully embrace this gift no matter what. Bringingsoul mates together and starting families is something I could do for the restof my life with no regrets.
“You’re welcome.” I returned the squeeze toher hand.
That afternoon, Anna ran with thepack for the first time. You could see the instant bond her wolf had withJake’s wolf. They nuzzled and nipped and ran around like total love crazygoofballs. Because Anna was achangedwolf, she was told she would havea special power when she shifted. She hadn’t discovered her power yet. Kai saidit might take a few shifts or a certain situation to bring it about.
Right before the run, Anna’s place inthe pack was tested. She was fifth from the top; a very dominant female. Kaiwas pleased because she was a good replacement for Sadie. Kai was worried thatsomeone might come to claim her but no one from her home state of Montana hadeven tried.
I was becoming more aware of the packbonds when I was in wolf form. Kai told me that as his second and eventuallywhen we were mated, I would have access to power through the pack bonds. Ibegan to open myself to each member and the energy that they brought to thepack. I sifted through the bonds and felt for Emma. She was such a sweet and naïveenergy. She served the pack well with her submissive peaceful energy. I feltfor Akash. He was such a young and bubbly spirit. I sensed future dominance inhim. He may become an Alpha of his own one day. I silently sifted through thepack members, getting to know each of their energy signatures.
That night we had a huge bonfire inthe backyard. Emma, Anna, and I sat together and talked while Kai handed outfood. He was an amazing cook. His Indian heritage showed in his food. He mademe a chickpea masala burger that left me drooling for a second helping.
“I have something to discuss,” Kaishouted over everyone. The pack quieted.
“Aurora has chosen to stay in contactwith her family and friends.”
There was a murmur amongst thewolves. I felt my cheeks redden. “And I support it,” he shouted, and everyonequieted again.
“Tomorrow, Aurora’s mother will bevisiting her under the pretense that Aurora has come to live with me as herboyfriend. To explain the presence of all of you, Aurora has told her mother Irun an alcoholic rehabilitation facility.”
The collective laughing was hard toignore. Max stopped chugging his beer mid swallow.
“Also, Aurora is the owner of a non-profitcompany called Safe Haven. It’s a domestic violence shelter for women andchildren. They teach self-defense classes as well.”
The pack was now looking at me withrespect. Some of the more submissive members tilted their heads to me.
“Her main office is in Portland whichwill now be staffed by humans so we don’t start a territory war. We willpurchase a second location in Gresham on the border of our territory. From nowon, I ask that the pack members volunteer at the Gresham location on a rotationschedule. This is important to Aurora and to me.”
The pack raised their glasses.“Cheers!” called Devon.
